In a major blow to the federal government, a judge in Detroit has declared America's female genital mutilation law unconstitutional, thereby dismissing the key charges against two Michigan doctors and six others accused of subjecting at least nine minor girls to the cutting procedure in the nation's first FGM case.
The historic case involves minor girls from Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota, including some who cried, screamed… Read more ›

On September 24, 2018, a bench of Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud referred the FGM PIL to a constitution bench. This decision was taken after six months of extensive hearings, and immediately after the attorney general KK Venugopal asked for the matter to be referred to a larger bench, despite… Read more ›

Detroit — Federal prosecutors filed new charges in the nation's first case involving female genital mutilation, accusing one doctor of mutilating three more prepubescent girls and alleging one girl was drugged.
The new charges bring to a total of nine girls from three states who prosecutors say underwent the illegal procedure at a Livonia medical clinic since 2015.
The indictment was filed one week after The… Read more ›

Detroit — As many as six members of a Muslim sect from India were questioned by a federal grand jury Wednesday as prosecutors pursue more criminal charges involving new girls in the nation's first female genital mutilation case.
The grand jury appearances by members of the Dawoodi Bohra community come as defense… Read more ›

WeSpeakOut, a non-profit organisation fighting for the rights of Dawoodi Bohra Muslims, has started an audio campaign against female genital mutilation (FGM), appealing to community members to speak about their experiences. Over the last month, it has received over 40 responses from both women and men from various parts of India and abroad on the controversial topic. The campaign is called 'My voice against khafz/FGM counts'. The audio posts… Read more ›

The Supreme Court, in a hearing of a PIL filed against the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) among the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim group, said that just because the practice dates back to the 10th century AD, it can’t be declared an “essential religious practice”. FGM is the practice of partially or completely removing the clitoral hood. In India, it is largely limited to the Dawoodi Bohras and some other Muslim groups in Kerala… Read more ›

A case related to female genital mutilation (FGM) in Australia has become a talking point in the city. This comes after an Australian appeal court overturned the conviction of three people accused of FGM. The appeals court ruling in Australia has created a ripple like it did when it has convicted three people. The appeal verdict comes even as the Supreme Court is hearing a matter on FGM.
Two years ago, three people were convicted of… Read more ›

A mother, a former registered nurse and Sydney Islamic sect leader convicted in Australia's first female genital mutilation court case — seen as a breakthrough in prosecuting the crime — have been acquitted by an appeal court.
Shabbir Vaziri, a head cleric and spiritual leader in the Dawoodi Bohra community, was found guilty of being an accessory for directing members to lie about the practice of 'khatna', a procedure involving… Read more ›